Thermal printer with erasing function using thinned heating energy generating patterns

Abstract

A thermal transfer printer with an erasing function for recording data by use of heating energy. Included are a signal generator to generate a signal to instruct the erasure; a heating energy generator; a memory in which generation patterns of heating energy to be generated from the heating energy generator are stored; and a controller to control the heating energy generator in a manner such that a plurality of different generation patterns are read out of the memory on the basis of the erasing instruction from the signal generator and different heating energy is generated from the heating energy generator a plurality of times on the basis of the generation patterns, thereby erasing recorded patterns. The heating energy generator gives the heating energy to the recorded patterns through a correctable ribbon which can print and erase. With this printer, the data recorded by variable lengths in the proportional spacing mode can be certainly erased.

Description

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/839,682 filed Feb. 24, 1992, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/520,831, filed Apr. 4, 1990, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/136,121 filed Dec. 21, 1987, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printer with an erasing function and, more particularly, to a thermal printer with an erasing function in an apparatus for recording by the use of heating energy.

2. Related Background Art

Various kinds of printers with an erasing function have been proposed. Among the thermal transfer printers for recording by use of heating energy, in recent years, the thermal transfer printer with the erasing function has been developed. However, it is the present situation that certain erasure cannot always be performed.

Further, when the character data to be erased has been deleted from a buffer, the erasure span is not specified. Therefore, a method whereby the erasure is manually performed by an instruction of the operator is considered. In this case, the foregoing drawback causes a further problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In consideration of the foregoing points, it is an object of the invention to provide a printer with the erasing function in which the erasure can be certainly performed by the function of heating energy, or to provide its control method.

In consideration of the foregoing points, it is another object of the invention to provide a printer which can certainly perform the erasure by use of a plurality of different heating energy generation patterns for erasure, or to provide its control method.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a printer which can certainly perform the erasure by heating the heating energy generating means for performing the erasure by different pulse widths at predetermined intervals, or to provide its control method.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a printer with the erasing function in which the data which has been recorded but is not left in a memory or the data which has been recorded with variable lengths in the PS (proportional spacing or the like) mode can be certainly erased, or to provide its control method.

As described in detail above, according to the invention, the erasure can be certainly performed.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printer with an erasing function comprising: heating energy generating means; memory means in which generation patterns of heating energy to be generated from the heating energy generating means are stored; and control means for controlling the heating energy generating means in a manner such that a plurality of generation patterns are read out of the memory means on the basis of a signal from signal generating means and the heating energy is generated from the heating energy generating means a plurality of times on the basis of the generation patterns, thereby erasing the recorded patterns.

As described in detail above, the erasure can be certainly performed by generating the heating energy for erasure by different pulse widths at predetermined intervals.

According to the invention, it is possible to provide a printer with the erasing function comprising: heating energy generating means; memory means in which generation patterns of heating energy to be generated from the heating energy generating means are stored; and control means for controlling the heating energy generating means in a manner such that the generation patterns are read out of the memory means on the basis of a signal from signal generating means and the heating energy is generated from the heating energy generating means by different pulse widths at predetermined intervals on the basis of the generation patterns, thereby erasing the recorded patterns.

As described in detail above, according to the invention, recorded patterns can be certainly erased.

According to the invention, it is possible to provide a printer with the erasing function comprising: first signal generating means for generating a signal to instruct the erasure; second signal generating means for generating a signal indicative of a range to be erased; heating energy generating means; and control means for controlling the heating energy generating means in a manner such that the heating energy is generated from the heating energy generating means for the interval of the erasing range on the basis of the signals from the first and second signal generating means and of heating energy generation patterns for erasure, thereby erasing recorded patterns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic typewriter;

FIG. 1A is a schematic sectional view in the thickness direction of a multi-layer ribbon for use in the invention;

FIGS. 1B and 1C are representative planar views of an ordinary ink ribbon and a correctable ribbon, respectively.

FIG. 1D is a side view of a dual color ribbon.

FIG. 2 is a constitutional block diagram of an electronic typewriter;

FIG. 3 is a constitutional diagram of a thermal head driver;

FIG. 4 is a constitutional diagram of a motor driver;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a character font;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for AMA control to heat the portion of the pattern A in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for PPM control to heat the portion in the pattern A in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for P'PM control to heat the portion of the pattern A in FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for P'PM (3, 2, 1) control to heat the portion of the pattern A in FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for P'MP control to heat the portion of the pattern A in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 11(a) and (b) are an explanatory diagram for AMA³ control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for A³ MA control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for A² AMA control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for A³ MA³ control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for AA³ MA control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram for A² AMA³ control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram for AM and A'M underline control;

FIGS. 18(a) and (b) are an explanatory diagram for control of one serial/lateral dot in the AMA control to heat the portion of the pattern C shown in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 19-1 to 19-3 are explanatory diagrams for examples of application in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for "!"-shape dot control to heat the portion of the pattern D in FIG. 5;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram for ""-shape dot control to heat the portion of the pattern E in FIG. 5;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram for "□"-shape dot control to heat the portion of the pattern F in FIG. 5:

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram for P'P³ M control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram for P'³ PM control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram for P'PMP' control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram for P'PMP'² control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram for P² P'PM control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram for P'P³ MP'³ control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram for P'³ PMP'³ control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram for P² P'PMP'³ control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 31 is an explanatory diagram for PP'³ PMP' control to heat the portion of the pattern B in FIG. 5;

FIG. 32 is an explanatory diagram for one serial/lateral dot control in the P'PM control to heat the portion of the pattern C in FIG. 5;

FIGS. 33-1 to 33-5 are diagrams showing examples of application in FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a flowchart for the AMA control shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 35 is a flowchart for the PPM control shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 36 is a flowchart for the P'PM control shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 37 is a flowchart for the P'PM (3,2,1) control shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 38 is a control flowchart for the portion to obtain the A data in the AMA control;

FIG. 39 is a control flowchart for the first dot in the AMA control;

FIG. 40 is a flowchart for the AMA³ control shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 41 is a flowchart for the A³ MA³ control shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 42 is a control flowchart for one serial/lateral dot in the AMA control shown in FIG. 18;

FIG. 43 is a flowchart for the "!"-shape dot control;

FIG. 44 is a flowchart for the ""-shape dot control;

FIG. 45 is a flowchart for the "□"-shape dot control;

FIG. 46 is a flowchart for the AM and A'M underline control;

FIG. 47 is a flowchart to obtain the P data in the P'PM control;

FIG. 48 is a flowchart to obtain the P' data in the P'PM control;

FIG. 49 is a flowchart to obtain the P' (3, 2, 1) data in the P'PM (3, 2, 1) control;

FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing the control of the first dot in the P'PM control;

FIG. 51 is a flowchart for the P'P³ MP'³ control;

FIG. 52 is a flowchart for the P'P³ M control;

FIG. 53 is a flowchart for the one lateral dot control in the P'PM control;

FIG. 54 is a system flowchart;

FIGS. 55A and 55B are explanatory diagrams of patterns for erasure;

FIG. 56 is a flowchart for erasure (by a zigzag pattern);

FIG. 57 is a flowchart for the MN control; and

FIG. 58 is a flowchart for manual erasure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail hereinbelow with reference to the drawings.

(Description of the typewriter main unit)

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external view of an electronic typewriter as a thermal transfer printer to which the invention can be applied.

A thermal head 6 and sensor 6A are mounted on a carriage 5 of a printer unit 3 is pressed onto a platen 50 through a ribbon 52 by operating keys 54 arranged in a keyboard unit 1 with heat applied. Thus, the printing is performed by the ink of the ribbon 52 onto a print paper 56 which is fed by the platen 50. An LCD (liquid crystal display) unit 2 to display the content to be printed and a platen knob 4 to manually feed the print paper 56 are also provided.

The electronic typewriter (thermal transfer printer) in the embodiment can attach a plurality of kinds of ribbons 52 and can discriminate the attachment of the following ribbons by a sensor 58 or by an instruction from one of the keys 54: namely, an (ordinary) ink ribbon IR 52a in which the single color printing can be performed at the same ribbon position; a correctable ribbon (self correction ribbon) CR 52b in which the printing and erasure can be performed by the same ribbon; a dual color ribbon DR 52c (refer to Japanese patent Application Nos. 60-260403/1984, now publication No. 61-137789 published Jun. 25, 1986 and 60-298831/1985, now Publication No. 62-136994 published Jul. 11, 1987) in which the ribbon 52 consists of a plurality of layers 52d and a multi-color printing can be selectively performed at the same ribbon position in dependence on the layer to be printed; and the like.

FIG. 1A shows a schematic sectional view of a multi-layer ribbon for use in the invention. More specifically, a heat sensitive transfer medium 66 includes a support 60 in the form of a sheet, a first ink layer 62 and a second ink layer 64 formed on and in this order from the support 60.

FIG. 2 shows a constitutional block diagram of the electronic typewriter.

(1) Printer unit 3:

This unit 3 is the printing apparatus of an electronic typewriter and has the carriage 5 including therein a drive motor 22 shown in FIG. 4. The thermal head 6 is mounted in this unit 3.

(2) Keyboard unit 1:

This keyboard unit 1 is used as the input unit and has a key matrix depicted by keys 54 in FIG. 1.

(3) LCD unit 2:

This LCD unit 2 displays the information to print or store. An LCD 2 is used as a display surface. It is covered by LCD glass 2c. This LCD unit 2 has a controller 2a and a driver 2b in FIG. 2 to display the data from a CPU 9 onto the LCD glass 2c.

(4) CPU unit 7:

An AC adapter, nickel cadmium battery, dry cell, and the like can be used as an input power source 8. From this power source 8, three power sources are produced: a power source (hereinafter, referred to as V_cc) to make the logic circuits including the CPU 9 operative; a power source (hereinafter, referred to as V_M) for the motor 22 shown in FIG. 4 of the printer; a power source (hereinafter, referred to as V_H) which is applied to the thermal head 6.

A control system mainly comprises: the CPU 9; ROM 10 in which a system program and character generator CG, which will be explained hereinafter, are stored; a memory device such as RAM 11 or the like for a work or text; and a custom integrated circuit, for example, a gate array: hereinafter, referred to as a GA 12 shown in FIG. 2) serving as expansion input/output terminals, address decoder, and the like of the CPU 9. The RAM 11 has a character count unit 23 to store widths of characters from the CG which are necessary for the control, which will be explained hereinafter. Temperature information from a temperature measurement circuit 13 is input to the control system and thereafter, the data which is sent to the thermal head 6 of the printer is transmitted through the GA 12 to a thermal head driver (TH driver) 21. Drive signals are sent from the CPU 9 to the respective phases of a stepping motor 22 (refer to FIG. 4) as the motor for the printer through a motor driver 14.

This typewriter has therein an interface connector 15. The I/F connector 15 can only receive the data from an external host computer 16a in a manner such that this typewriter can be used as a printer through, for example, an interface 16 made by Centronics Co., Ltd. or an RS-232C 17 so as to print this data. Further, the typewriter also has therein a cartridge connector 20 into which a CG cartridge 18 having character styles of the types as data and RAM cartridge 19 to store registration data can be inserted.

(Constitution of the thermal head driver 21)

FIG. 3 shows a constitution of the thermal head driver IC 21 to heat the thermal head 6 shown in FIG. 1.

V_cc1, V_cc2 : Input terminals to receive power sources for the logic circuits shown in FIG. 3.

VD₁, VD₂ : Power sources for the driver to drive the thermal head.

GND₁ to GND₇ : Ground GND.

OUT₁ to OUT₂5 : Open collector output terminals corresponding to each dot of the head.

CK: Timing clock for data latch (from the GA 12).

DIN: Heat data input terminal (from the GA 12).

CRX: Terminal having a CR charging circuit as shown in FIG. 3 in the outside of the integrated circuit IC. A print inhibition signal to inhibit the printing output for the thermal head can be output irrespective of the software when an EN terminal is at the high level at the charge voltage level of the capacitor C.

EN: When the CRX terminal is at the low level, if the high level signal is input to the terminal EN, a print permission signal is output. When the low level signal is input to the terminal EN, a print inhibition signal is output.

In the foregoing constitution, first, to send the heat data to D flip-flops shown in the center of FIG. 3, the parallel data from the CPU 9 are converted into the serial data by the GA 12 and then transferred to the DIN terminal. Clocks are also sent from the GA 12 to the CK terminal of the TH driver 21. By repeating these operations twenty-four times, the heat data of one time is completely taken into the IC. In the next operation to transfer the heat data to the driver 21, by previously setting the EN terminal to the low level by a software command, the charges in a capacitor 70 of FIG. 3 in the outside of the CRX terminal are discharged and the CRX terminal is set to the low level. The time duration to heat is set. Thereafter, the high level signal is sent to the EN terminal. From this time point, the heating operation is started in accordance with the latched data. The thermal head 6 is continuously heated until a set time in the CPU 9 has come or the EN terminal is set to the low level or the capacitor level of the CRX terminal has exceeded a set value.

As shown schematically in FIG. 3, the thermal head 6 in the embodiment is constituted in such a manner that twenty-five heads OUT₁ to OUT₂5 are vertically arranged in a line. When recording a pattern as shown in FIG. 5, the heads 6 are moved, e.g., from the left to the right in FIG. 5, while the heating operations are executed at the recording timing corresponding to the respective dots, thereby performing the recording. The shape of head 6 is not limited to this example.

FIG. 4 shows a constitution of the motor driver IC 14 to drive the motor 22 of the printer 3.

Signal lines of the CPU 9 are directly connected to input terminals of the motor driver IC 14 and their outputs are directly connected to the respective phases of the motor 22. The double phase excitation is performed in response to a software command. Thus, the carriage 5 on which the head 6 is mounted moves. In order to heat at a predetermined timing in association with the carriage movement, a reference interval of "heat cycle (one recording timing)" shown in FIG. 6 and the like is specified in accordance with the switching of each excitation.

The present invention will now be described in detail herein below on the basis of the foregoing constitution with reference to the drawings.

(Description of the character fonts)

FIG. 5 shows an example of a character font stored in the ROM 10 or CG cartridge 18 in FIG. 2. In this example, the character "A" is expressed by 16 dots (in the vertical direction)×32 dots (in the horizontal direction). Each dot is represented by a small circle (∘). Fundamentally, the character "A" is applied with the heating energies in a manner such that the head 6 (any one of the heads OUT₁ to OUT₂5 in FIG. 3) of the portion corresponding to each dot (∘) in a time or positional manner is heated once within one heat pulse. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the head can print the vertically arranged 25 dots of heads OUT₁ to OUT₂5. By horizontally moving the head 6, an arbitrary character is printed. A constitution of the head 6 is not limited to this example. Each area indicated by "A" to "F" denotes a part of the pattern which will be used to explain the driving of the thermal head 6 hereinafter. In FIG. 5, the lateral direction indicates a heat cycle and the vertical direction represents dot lines (the 1st line to the 25th line) corresponding to the heads of one vertical column.

The heating operation Of the thermal head 6 in the invention will now be described in detail.

(AMA control)

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a printing state of the portion A in FIG. 5 on the basis of the heat pulses and heat data. The lateral direction of one lattice indicates one heat cycle and the vertical direction represents a distance (size) of one dot. A mark (∘) indicates the heat data (corresponding to the CG). In the AMA control in this embodiment, the printing is controlled on the basis of two data consisting of after data (hereinafter, referred to as A data) and main data (hereinafter, referred to as M data) and their pulse widths. The A data is heated after the data of the main dot within one heat cycle with respect to the position. The pulse width and pulse position of each M data are set to be equal, respectively. The pulse width and pulse position of each A data are also set to be equal, respectively. The pulse position and the pulse timing are used as the equivalent meaning for convenience of explanation. The heat data indicated by the mark (∘) corresponds to the M data in a one-to-one correspondence relation. On the other hand, it is difficult to suddenly heat the thermal head 6 (i.e., the ribbon 52). When only the M data is heated, a variation in printing occurs. Namely, when the heat pulse width of the M data is long, in the case of the continuous dots, the heat is accumulated, so that the heating energy when heating later becomes high. On the contrary, when the heat pulse width is short, the heating energy of the dot at the start of the heating is low.

Therefore, to make uniform the printing energy, i.e., to uniformly perform the printing, it is necessary to control by use of the different heating positions and the different heat pulses with respect to the A data and M data. According to the AMA control, since the interval between the A data to the next M data is short, the heat applied by the A data is hardly reduced. The AMA control is particularly effective at the ordinary or low temperatures (e.g., 30°C or less) and the high quality printing can be obtained.

Although a detailed explanation will be made hereinafter, according to the AMA control, the CG data is previously read before the start of the heating by one dot. If data exists, only the A data is heated after the M data with respect to the position. The thermal head 6 heated by this A data (the first A data in the AMA) executes the printing by the subsequent M data (at the next recording timing). The head 6 is certainly warmed by the subsequent A data, so that the printing is surely performed. Further, this state also provides a preparation for the next M data. The subsequent dot can print by only the M data as shown in FIG. 6.

(PPM control)

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the PPM control in a manner similar to FIG. 6 with respect to the case of printing the pattern A in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 shows a printing state by use of the heat pulses and heat data. The mark (∘) denotes heat data. In the PPM control, predata is given before the M data called P data with respect to the position. According to the PPM control, the printing is controlled by two P data (one is for the spare data and the other is the auxiliary data of the M data in one heat cycle) and the M data. The pulse width and pulse position of each M data are set to be equal, respectively. The pulse width and pulse position of each P data are also set to be equal, respectively. The heat data indicated by the mark (∘) corresponds to the M data in a one-to-one correspondence relation. Particularly, at high temperatures, if the first dot is excessively corrected, there is a tendency such that the printing energy increases. However, to correct this tendency, the interval between the first P (spare) data and the next P (auxiliary) data is set to a long interval and the heating energy is dispersed during this interval. Due to this, the printing energy can be made uniform.

(P'PM control)

FIG. 8 shows a printing state by the heat pulses and heat data in the case of printing the pattern A in FIG. 5 by the P'PM control. The mark (∘) denotes heat data. In the P'PM control, the printing is controlled on the basis of pre dash data called P' data having a pulse width different from that of each of the P data discussed above as well as the M data. Although this control should be referred to as the APM control in consideration of the foregoing control, it is referred to as the P'PM control for convenience of explanation. According to the P'PM control, three kinds of pulse widths and positions exist in one heat cycle. The P'PM control is used in the case of the printing having a relatively long heat cycle. Namely, when the heat cycle is long, if the A data and the next M data are printed in the heat cycle before the M data, the interval between the A data and the M data becomes too long, so that the warmed head 6 is unexpectedly cooled. To prevent this, the heat pulse of the P data is interposed before the M data within the same heat cycle as that of the P' data M at a position near the end of the heat cycle before the M data, thereby constituting the P'PM control. With this control, the head 6 warmed by the P' data can print by the P data and M data. Further, the second dot and subsequent dots can be printed by only the M data.

The P'PM control is particularly effective at, e.g., ordinary or high temperatures.

(P'PM (3, 2, 1) control)

FIG. 9 shows a printing state by the heat pulses and heat data in the case of printing the pattern A in FIG. 5 by the P'PM (3, 2, 1) control. The mark (∘) indicates heat data. The P'PM (3, 2, 1) control is constituted by three data consisting of the pre dash data called the P' data, the pre data called the P data, and the main data called the M data, and three kinds of heat pulse widths and pulse positions. The P'PM (3, 2, 1) control is used in the case of the printing having a relatively long heat cycle.

For example, when the P'PM control which is effective at high or ordinary temperatures is used at low temperatures, the printing energy may be lacking for the first and second dots. To prevent a variation in printing due to this, the P'PM (3, 2, 1) control is executed. With this control, the printing energy can be made uniform. Namely, for the first dot, the head 6 warmed by the first P' data in the one-preceding heat cycle performs the printing operation by the P data, M data, and next P' data (total three pulses) within one heat cycle of the M data. The second dot is printed by the P data and the second M data (total two pulses) within one heat cycle of the second M data. The third and subsequent dots can be printed by only the M data (total one pulse). In this P'PM (3, 2, 1) control, the heating energy to be applied are concentrated to the first and second dots.

(P'MP control)

FIG. 10 shows a printing state by the heat pulses and heat data in the case of printing the pattern A in FIG. 5 by the P'MP control. The P'MP control relates to an example of application of the P'PM control which is effective at ordinary or high temperatures. In this example, the positions of the P and M data in P'PM are exchanged.

(AMA³ control)

FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) show a printing state by the heat pulses and heat data in the case of printing the pattern B in FIG. 5. The mark (∘) denotes heat data. When no heat data exists at the upper and lower positions of the first dot, the heat can easily escape in the vertical direction (refer to FIG. 11(b)) and it is difficult to certainly print. This drawback can be prevented by slightly heating by the A data the upper and lower positions at which the heating energy escapes with respect to the first dot of a lateral line such that no other dot exists in the upper and lower directions like the pattern B in FIG. 5. By this method, the first dot can be surely heated and the high quality printing is derived.

The AMA³ control is particularly suitable in the high speed printing mode and, further, it is particularly effective at the ordinary temperature for the AMA control mentioned above.

(A³ MA control)

The A³ MA control relates to an example of application of the foregoing AMA³ control. FIG. 12 shows the A³ MA control in the case of printing the pattern B in FIG. 5. According to the method of the A³ MA control, the peripheral temperature of the dot to be printed is raised before the printing.

(A² AMA control)

FIG. 13 likewise shows the A² AMA control when printing the pattern B in FIG. 5. In the A² AMA control, the head is slowly warmed from the timing which is preceding to the printing dot by two dots.

(A³ MA³ control)

FIG. 14 shows a printing state by the heat pulses and heat data in the case of printing the pattern B in FIG. 5 by the A³ MA³ control. The mark (∘) denotes heat data. At low temperatures, the heat diffusion also occurs in the AMA³ control described in FIG. 11. Therefore, it is necessary to apply higher heating energy than those in the AMA³ control. For this purpose, in the A³ MA³ control, the peripheral temperature of the dot to be printed is previously raised and the position where the heat can escape is heated by the A data. By this method, the first dot can be certainly heated at low temperatures.

(AA³ MA control)

As an example of application of the foregoing A³ MA³ control, FIG. 15 similarly shows the AA³ MA control when printing the pattern B in FIG. 5. According to the AA³ MA control, the central and peripheral positions of the printing dot of the head are previously warmed from the timing which is preceding to the printing dot by two dots, thereby increasing the heating energies to be applied.

(A² AMA³ control)

FIG. 16 likewise shows the A² AMA³ control for the pattern B in FIG. 5. In the A² AMA³ control, the peripheral positions of the printing dot of the head are previously warmed from the timing which is two dots preceding to the dot to be heated, thereby increasing the heating energy to be applied.

(AM underline control)

An underline is printed by continuously heating two vertical dots. At this time, when the AMA control shown in FIG. 6 is used, the heat is accumulated in the head 6. To prevent this, the average value of the heating energy to be applied needs to be reduced. However, since the widths of A data and M data also serve as the heating periods of time for characters, the heat pulse widths cannot be reduced. Therefore, by heating the M data every other dot and by deleting the post A data in the AMA control, the heating energy to be applied are reduced and the heat accumulation is suppressed.

FIG. 17(b) shows the foregoing AM underline control.

(A'M underline control)

In the AM underline control, the applying energy at the first dot of the underline from which the heat accumulation was eliminated is low. Therefore, there is a possibility such that the lack of printing at the first dot occurs at low temperatures. To correct this drawback, the data which is obtained by widening the pulse width of A in the AM underline control is set to A' and used to preheat the first dot. Thus, the first dot of the underline can be more certainly printed.

FIG. 17(a) shows the A'M control.

(One serial/lateral dot control in the AMA control)

FIG. 18 shows a printing state by the heat pulses and heat data in the case of printing a one serial/parallel dot line by the AMA control. The mark (∘) denotes heat data. In the case of the continuous heat data, only the M data is ordinarily heated. Therefore, particularly, as shown in FIG. 18(b), the heating energy escapes in the directions as shown by the arrows at low temperatures, so that there is a possibility that the printing concentration is small or is not performed.

To eliminate such a drawback, the A data is added so as to obtain sufficient heating energies even if the heat has escaped. This method is shown in FIG. 18(a).

FIGS. 19-1 to 19-3 show examples of the application of this control.

FIG. 19-1 shows the case where the A data is added at the interval of every other dot.

FIG. 19-2 shows the case where the A data is added to the upper and lower lines of the line where the dot information to be printed exists, namely, in the upper and lower heat escaping directions.

FIG. 19-3 shows the case of a combination of FIG. 18(a) and FIG. 19-2 in which the A data is added at interval of every other dot.

("!"-shape dot control)

FIG. 20 shows a printing state by the heat pulses and heat data in the case of printing the pattern D in FIG. 5 at a high quality. In the heating method by the AMA control shown in FIG. 6, the A data is heated from the timing before the actual CG data and the head is warmed. However, in the case of FIG. 20, since the heat escapes in the directions indicated by arrows, there is no need to warm the head 6. Therefore, when the M data exists in the upper and lower directions, the first A data (indicated by broken lines) at the center is not heated.

(""-shape dot control)

FIG. 21 shows a printing state in the case of printing the pattern E in FIG. 5. In this case, since the heat moves in the directions indicated by arrows, the A data (shown by broken lines) does not need to be heated.

The "␣"-shape dot control and the "□"-shape (the center is a blank) dot control are also similarly executed and their drawings are omitted here.

("□"-shape dot control)

FIG. 22 shows a printing state in the case of printing the pattern F in FIG. 5. In the diagram, the center is a dot to be printed and differs from the "□"-shape in which the center is a blank. The heating energy moves toward the center from the upper, lower, and front positions thereof. Therefore, when the M data is heated, the heating energy is concentrated and there is a possibility such that a variation in printing occurs. However, since the printing can be performed only when the heating is executed, the A data is heated to a degree such as not to form a blank portion, thereby reducing the heating energy and making uniform the whole energy.

(P'P³ M control)

FIG. 23 shows a printing state by the heat pulses and heat data in the case of printing the pattern B in FIG. 5. The mark (∘) denotes heat data. In the case of the first dot when no heat data exists at the upper and lower positions, the heat is diffused in the upper and lower directions, so that it is difficult to certainly print. Therefore, by heating the heat escaping positions by the P data, the diffusion of the heat can be prevented and the first dot can be certainly heated. In this case, the pulse widths of the P and P' data are different.

This P'P³ M control is effective at high or ordinary temperatures in the case of the P'PM control which is suitable in the low speed printing mode.

(P'P³ M control)

As an example of application of the P'P³ M control, the P'³ PM control is shown in FIG. 24. The P'³ PM control relates to a method whereby the peripheral temperature of the dot to be printed is previously raised.

(P'PMP' control)

FIG. 25 shows the P'PMP' control. According to this control, the printing energy for the first dot in the P'PM control which has been described in FIG. 8 is increased by the amount corresponding to the second P' data, thereby correcting the diffusion of the heating energy which is applied to the first dot. Thus, the printing of a good quality can be derived.

(P'PMP'² control)

FIG. 26 shows the P'PMP'² control. According to this control, the heat diffusion at the upper and lower peripheral positions of the M data of the first dot in the P'PM control which has been described in FIG. 8 is prevented by two P' data, thereby protecting P'PM.

(P² P'PM control)

FIG. 27 shows the P² P'PM control. According to this control, there is an effect such that by applying two P data just before the execution of the P'PM control, the head 6 is previously warmed, thereby suppressing the heat diffusion which occurs at the start of the P'PM control.

(P'P³ MP'³ control)

FIG. 28 shows a printing state by the heat pulses and heat data in the case of printing the pattern B in FIG. 5 by the P'P³ MP'³ control. The mark (∘) denotes heat data. In the P'PM (3, 2, 1) control shown in FIG. 9, it is considered that in the case of the first dot when no heat data exists at the upper and lower positions, the heat is diffused in the upper and lower directions, so that it is difficult to certainly print. Therefore, by heating the heat diffusing positions by the P data and P' data, the heat diffusion can be prevented and the first dot can be further surely heated.

The P'P³ MP'³ control is particularly suitable in the low speed printing mode.

(P'³ PMP'³ control)

As an example of application of the P'P³ MP'³ control, FIG. 29 shows the P'³ PMP'³ control. When the P' data is heated twice in the P'PM (3, 2, 1) control shown in FIG. 9, the head 6 is warmed at the first time at the upper or lower position. The diffusion of the heat of the M data is prevented at the second time. In this manner, the heating efficiency is raised.

(P² P'PMP'³ control)

FIG. 30 shows the P² P'PMP'³ control. According to this control, before the P' data is heated at the first time in the P'PM (3, 2, 1) control shown in FIG. 9, in order to set the head temperature to the proper value, the P data at the upper and lower positions are preheated, and, at the P' data just after the M data, the P' data at the upper and lower positions are further heated to prevent the heat diffusion in the upper and lower directions, thereby making uniform the printing energy.

(PP'³ PMP' control)

FIG. 31 shows the PP'³ PMP' control. In the case of the first dot at low temperatures, the heating efficiency of the P' data for the preheat in the P'PM (3, 2, 1) control shown in FIG. 9 deteriorates due to the heat diffusion. Therefore, according to the PP'³ PMP' control, in order to improve the heating efficiency, the P data is previously heated and the P' data at the upper and lower positions are then heated, thereby preventing the heat diffusion.

(One serial/lateral dot control in the P'PM control)

FIG. 32 shows a printing state by the heat pulses and heat data in the case of printing the pattern C in FIG. 5. The mark (∘) denotes heat data. In the case of the continuous heat data, only the M data is ordinarily heated. Therefore, particularly in the low speed printing mode at low temperatures, the heat escapes in the upper and lower directions, so that there is a possibility such that the printing concentration is small or the printing is not performed.

Therefore, in order to obtain sufficient heating energy even if the heat has escaped, the P data and P' data are added in the same heat cycle as that of the M data. This method is shown in FIG. 32.

FIGS. 33-1 to 33-5 show examples of application of this control.

FIG. 33-1 shows the case where the P data and P' data are added at intervals of one dot (within one heat cycle) in the upper and lower heat escaping directions.

FIG. 33-2 shows the case where the P data is added to the centers of the printing dots at intervals of one dot and at the same time, the P' data is added at intervals of one dot in the upper and lower heat escaping directions.

FIG. 33-3 shows the case where the P data is added to the centers of the printing dots and at the same time, the P' data is added at intervals of one dot.

FIG. 33-4 shows the case where the control is switched at intervals of three dots. The first dot is heated by the P data, M data, and P' data. The second dot is heated by the P data and M data. The third dot is heated by only the M data. These heating operations are repeated.

FIG. 33-5 shows the case where the P data and P' data are alternately added to the centers of the printing dots.

Each of the foregoing controls will now be explained hereinafter with reference to flowcharts.

In the following flowchart, the "data heat" means that a drive pulse is given and whether data is actually printed or not is determined in dependence on whether the data has been turned on or off when the drive pulse was given.

(Flowchart for the AMA control)

FIG. 34 is a control flowchart for the AMA control shown in FIG. 6. When the printing is instructed from a key of the keyboard 1 shown in FIG. 1 or the like, the printing is started. The processing routine for the AMA control in step S1 is started. In step S2, a width of character to be printed (i.e., a length in the lateral direction shown in FIG. 5; in this case, 32 dots) is accessed from the CG (ROM 10 or CG cartridge 18) and set into the character count unit 23 in the RAM 11. The character width can be changed in accordance with a font or the like. In step S3, the excitation phase of the motor 22 is switched to move the carriage 5 having the thermal head 6 by the motor 22 by only the distance of one heat cycle corresponding to the width of one frame shown in FIGS. 6 to 33-5. Namely, the carriage 5 advances by the distance corresponding to one heat cycle by executing the switching operation in steps S3 to S9 once. In the next step S4, the substantial printing data, i.e., the M data corresponding to the mark (∘) shown in FIG. 5 is obtained from the CG.

Then, the A data is derived in step S5 to obtain the A data, which will be explained hereinafter. In step S6, the M data which was actually obtained in step S4 is heated. In step S7, the A data is heated. However, since the M data does not exist at first, the M data is heated (step S6) in the control. However, the M data is actually printed for the first time in step S6 in the next cycle. Subsequently, in step S8, the count data in the character count unit 23 is decreased by "1". In step S9, a check is made to see if the character count value is "0" or not. If it is "0", this means that the character to be printed has been finished. Therefore, the processing routine ends in step S10.

(Flowchart for the PPM control)

FIG. 35 is a flowchart for the PPM control shown in FIG. 7. The printing is started in step S1. A width in character to be printed is obtained from the CG and set into the character count unit 23 in the RAM 11 in step S2. The excitation phase of the stepping motor 22 is switched in step S3. The M data is obtained from the CG in step S4. These processes are the same as those in FIG. 34. In the next step S5, the A (P) data is made by use of the previous M data, the present M data, and the next M data. This routine will be explained hereinafter. However, the A data is used in place of the P data for convenience of explanation. The A (P) data obtained in step S5 is heated in step S6. The M data obtained in step S4 is heated in step S7. The character count value is decreased by "1" in step S8. In step S9, a check is made to see if the character count value is "0" or not. If it is "1", the processing routine is returned to step S3. If it is "0", this means that the printing of one character is finished, so that the processing routine ends in step S10.

(Flowchart for P'PM control)

FIG. 36 is a flowchart for the P'PM control shown in FIG. 8. Since the processes in steps S1 to S4 are the same as those in FIGS. 34 to 36, their descriptions are omitted. In step S5, the P data is produced by the previous M data and the present M data. This processing routine will be explained hereinafter. In step S6, the P data formed in step S5 is heated. In step S7, the M data obtained in step S4 is heated. In step S8, the P' data is made by the present M data and the next M data. This processing routine will be explained hereinafter. In step S9, the P' data obtained in step S8 is heated. In step S10, the character count value is decreased by "1". Practically speaking, the P' data is printed in the first cycle and the P and M data are printed in the next cycle. In step S11, a check is made to see if the character count value is "0" or not. If it is "1", the processing routine is returned to step S3. If it is "0", this means that the printing of one character has been finished, so that the processing routine ends in step S12.

(Flowchart for the P'PM (3, 2, 1) control)

FIG. 37 shows a flowchart for the P'PM (3, 2, 1) control shown in FIG. 9. Since the processes in steps S1 to S4 are the same as those mentioned above, their descriptions are omitted. In step S5, the presence or absence of the previous P' data is checked. If the previous P' data exists, the P data is turned on in step S7. Namely, this means that when the P data is then heated, it is printed. Next, step S8 follows. If the previous P' data does not exist, the P data is formed by the previous M data and the present M data in step S6 (which will be explained hereinafter). In step S8, the P data formed in steps S6 and S7 is heated. In step S9, the M data obtained in step S4 is heated. In step S10, the P' data is produced by the previous M data, the present M data, and the next M data (which will be explained hereinafter). In step S11, the P' data obtained in step S10 is heated. In step S12, the character count value is decreased by "1". In step S13, a check is made to see if the character count value is "0" or not. If it is not "0", the processing routine is returned to step S3. If it is "0", this means that the printing of one character has been finished, so that the processing routine ends in step S14.

(Flowchart for the control to obtain the A data)

FIG. 38 is a flowchart for the step of obtaining the A data (S5 in FIG. 34) in the AMA control. When the processing routine to obtain the A data in step S1 is started, a check is made in step S2 to see if the M data exists or not at the printing position of the printing head 6 at the present excitation phase which was switched in the excitation phase switching step S3 in FIG. 34 (hereinafter, this M data is referred to as the present M data). If it exists, the processing routine advances to step S3 and a check is made to see if the previous M data (the dot which is preceding to the present printing position by one dot) exists or not. If it does not exist, the A data is turned on in step S4. The turn-on of the A data means that the A data is actually printed by heating it in step S7 in FIG. 34. In this case, the latter A data in the AMA is formed. If the previous M data exists in step S3, this means that the M data continuously exists, so that step S7 follows.

On the other hand, if the present M data does not exist in step S2, step S5 follows and the CG for the next dot is previously read. This read data is set to the next M data. In step S6, the presence or absence of the next M data is checked. If the next M data exists, the A data is turned on in step S4. The A data formed in this step is the first A data in the AMA. If the next M data does not exist in step S6, step S7 follows.

In step S7, the first dot is controlled (which will be explained in conjunction with FIG. 39).

In step S8, the one serial/lateral dot control is executed (which will be explained in FIG. 42).

In step S9, the "!"-shape dot control is performed (which will be explained in FIG. 43).

In step S10, the ""-shape dot control is executed (which will be explained in FIG. 44).

In step S11, the "□"-shape dot control is carried out (which will be explained in FIG. 45).

The processing routine ends in step S12.

(Flowchart for control for the first dot in the AMA control).

FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing the control for the first dot in the AMA control. In step S1, the control is started. In step S2, the ambient temperature of the apparatus is measured by the temperature measurement circuit (13 in FIG. 2). In step S3, a check is made to see if the temperature is low or not. If it is low, the A³ MA³ control is executed in step S5. Step S6 then follows. If it is not low, the AMA³ control is performed in step S4 and the control ends in step S6.

(Flowchart for the AMA³ control)

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing the AMA³ control. In this case, the control shown in FIG. 11 is cited as an example.

In step 1, the control is started. In step S2, the presence or absence of the M data is checked. If the M data does not exist, step S6 follows. If it exists, a check is made in step S3 to see if the M data exists at the upper and lower positions or not. If either one of or both of the M data exist, step S6 follows. If no M data exists, the presence or absence of the A data is checked in step S4. If the A data does not exist, step S6 follows. If the A data exists, the A data at the upper and lower positions are turned on in step S5 and the processing routine ends in step S6.

(Flowchart for the A³ MA³ control)

FIG. 41 shows a flowchart for the A³ MA³ control. In this case, the control shown in FIG. 14 is cited as an example.

In step S1, the control is started. In step S2, the presence or absence of the M data is checked. If the M data does not exist, step S6 follows. If the M data exists, a check is made in step S3 to see if the M data at the upper and lower positions exist or not. If either one of or both of the M data exist, step S7 follows. If no M data exists, the presence or absence of the A data is checked in step S4. If the A data does not exist, step S7 follows. If it exists, the A data at the upper and lower positions are turned on in step S5. Then, step S7 follows.

In step S6, the presence or absence of the A data at the upper and lower positions is checked. If no A data exists, step S4 follows. If they exist, step S7 follows and the control ends.

(Flowchart for the one serial/lateral dot control in the AMA control)

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing the one serial/lateral dot control in the AMA control. In this case, the control shown in FIG. 18 is cited as an example.

In step S1, the control is started. In step S2, a check is made to see if the M data exists or not. If the M data does not exist, step S5 follows. If the M data exists, the presence or absence of the M data at the upper and lower positions is checked in step S3. If either one or of both of the M data at the upper and lower positions exist, step S5 follows. If no M data exists, the A data at the upper and lower positions (in the cases in FIGS. 19-1 to 19-3) are turned on in step S4. The processing routine ends in step S5.

(Flowchart for the "!"-shape dot control)

FIG. 43 is a flowchart for the "!"-shape dot control. An example of this control has already been described in FIG. 20. In step S1, the control is started. In step S2, the presence or absence of the A data is checked. If the A data does not exist, step S6 follows. If the A data exists, the presence or absence of the M data is checked in step S3. If the M data exists, step S6 follows. If the M data does not exist, the presence or absence of the M data at the upper and lower positions is checked in step S4. If no M data exists, step S6, follows. If they exist, the A data is turned off in step S5 and the control ends in step S6. Thus, the A data indicated by the broken lines shown in FIG. 20 is not printed and the "!"-shape is certainly printed.

(Flowchart of the ""-shape dot control)

FIG. 44 is a flowchart for the ""-shape dot control. An example of the control has already been described in FIG. 21. In step S1, the control is started. In step S2, the presence or absence of the present A data is checked. If the present A data does not exist, step S11 follows. If it exists, the presence or absence of the present M data is checked in step S3. If the present M data exists, step S11 follows. If the present M data does not exist, the presence or absence of the previous M data is checked in step S4. If the previous M data does not exist, step S11 follows. If the previous M data exists, the presence or absence of the M data at the upper position is checked in step S5. If the upper M data does not exist, step S10 follows. If it exists, the presence or absence of the M data at the lower position is checked in step S6. If the lower M data exists, step S11 follows. If it does not exist, the CG for the next dot is previously read in step S7. In step S8, the presence or absence of the M data for the next dot is checked. If it does not exist, step S11 follows. If the M data for the next dot exists, the A data is turned off in step S9 and step S11 follows.

In step S10, the presence or absence of the lower M data is checked. If it exists, step S7 follows. If it does not exist, step S11 follows and the control ends.

(Flowchart for the "□"-shape dot control)

FIG. 45 is a flowchart for the "□"-shape dot control. An example of this control has already been described in FIG. 22.

In step S1, the control is started. In step S2, the presence or absence of the present M data is checked. If it does not exist, step S9 follows. If it exists, step S3 follows and the presence or absence of the M data at the upper and lower positions is checked. If either one of or both of the upper and lower M data do not exist, step S9 follows. If both of the upper and lower M data exist, the presence or absence of the previous M data is checked in step S4. If the previous M data does not exist, step S9 follows. If the previous M data exists, the CG for the next data is previously read in step S5. The presence or absence of the next dot is checked in step S6. If the next dot does not exist, step S9 follows. If the next dot exists, the upper and lower M data are turned off in step S7. In step S8, the A data is turned on. In step S9, the control ends. Namely, if the M data exist around the present M data which was checked in step S2, these M data are turned off. However, in this state, the center of the dot becomes a blank. Therefore, only the A data is turned on so as to avoid the concentration of the heating energy.

(Flowchart for the AM and A'M underline controls)

FIG. 46 is a flowchart for the AM underline control and the A'M underline control.

It is apparent that an underline or the like is instructed by designating the printing mode with an underline or by inputting the data of a character with an underline by operating the keys. The control is started in step S1 on the basis of these instructions. In step S2, a check is made to see if the dot is the 0th dot or not.

Namely, a check is made to see if the preheat for the first dot of an underline is executed or not. If NO, step S4 follows. If the preheat is performed, the A' data (whose pulse width and pulse position are different from those of the A data) is heated in step S3. Then, step S7 follows. In step S4, a check is made to see if the dot is the even number dot or not. If YES, the A data is heated in step S5 and step S7 follows. If the dot is the odd number dot, the M data is heated in step S6 and the control ends in step S7.

(Flowchart for the control to obtain the P data)

FIG. 47 is a flowchart showing the process to obtain the P data in step S5 in the P'PM control shown in FIG. 36. The process to obtain the P data is started in step S1. In step S2, the presence or absence of the present M data is checked. If the present M data does not exist, step S5 follows. If it exists, the presence or absence of the previous M data is checked in step S3. If the previous M data exists, step S5 follows. If the previous M data does not exist, the P data is turned on in step S4.

In step S5, the first dot is controlled (which will be explained hereinafter in FIG. 50).

In step S6, one serial/lateral dot is controlled (which will be explained hereinafter in FIG. 53).

The processing routine ends in step S7.

(Flowchart for the control to obtain the P' data)

FIG. 48 is a flowchart for the process to obtain the P' data in the P'PM control which has been described in step S8 in FIG. 36. In step S1, the process to obtain the P' data is started. In step S2, the presence or absence of the present M data is checked. If the present M data exists, step S6 follows. If it does not exist, the CG for the next dot is previously read in step S3 and the read data is set to the next M data. In step S4, the presence or absence of the next dot (M data) is checked. If the next dot does not exist, step S6 follows. If it exists, the P' data is turned on in step S5 and the processing routine ends in step S6.

(Flowchart for the P'PM (3, 2, 1) control)

FIG. 49 is a flowchart for the process to obtain the P' (3, 2, 1) data in the P'PM (3, 2, 1) control described in step S10 in FIG. 37.

In step S1, the process to obtain the P' (3, 2, 1) data is started. In step S2, the presence or absence of the present M data is checked. If the present M data exists, step S6 follows. If the present M data does not exist, the CG for the next dot is previously read in step S3. In step S4, the presence or absence of the next dot (M data) is checked. If the next dot does not exist, step S7 follows. If the next dot exists, the P' (3, 2, 1) data is turned on in step S5 and step S7 follows.

In step S6, the presence or absence of the previous M data is checked. If it does not exist, step S5 follows. If it exists, the processing routine ends in step S7.

(Flowchart for the control for the first dot in the P'PM control)

FIG. 50 is a flowchart showing the control for the first dot in the P'PM control.

In step S1, the control is started. In step S2, the peripheral temperature of the apparatus is sensed by the temperature measurement circuit (13 in FIG. 2). In step S3, a check is made to see if the temperature is low or not. If it is not low, the P'P³ M control is performed in step S5 (which will be explained hereinafter in FIG. 51). Then, step S6 follows. If the temperature is low, the P'P³ MP'³ control is executed in step S4 (which will be explained hereinafter in FIG. 52). The processing routine ends in step S6.

(Flowchart for the P'P³ MP'³ control)

FIG. 51 is a flowchart for the P'P³ MP'³ control shown in step S4 in FIG. 50.

In step S1, the control is started. In step S2, the presence or absence of the M data is checked. If the M data does not exist, step S7 follows. If the M data exists, the presence or absence of the upper and lower M data is checked in step S3. If either one of or both of the upper and lower M data exist, step S7 follows. If no M data exists, the presence or absence of the P data is checked in step S4. If the P data does not exist, step S7 follows. If the P data exists, the upper and lower P data are turned on in step S5. The upper and lower P' data are turned on in step S6. The control ends in step S7.

(Flowchart for the P'P³ M control)

FIG. 52 is a flowchart for the P'P³ M control shown in step S5 in FIG. 50.

In step S1, the control is started. In step S2, the presence or absence of the M data is checked. If the M data does not exist, step S6 follows. If the M data exists, the presence or absence of the upper and lower M data is checked in step S3. If either one of or both of the upper and lower M data exist, step S6 follows. If no M data exists, the presence or absence of the P data is checked in step S4. If no P data exists, step S6 follows. If the P data exists, the upper and lower P data are turned on in step S5. The control ends in step S6.

(Flowchart for the one serial/parallel dot control in the P'PM control)

FIG. 53 is a flowchart showing the one serial/lateral dot control in the P'PM control described in FIGS. 36 and 47.

In step S1, the control is started. In step S2, the presence or absence of the present M data is checked. If the present M data does not exist, step S6 follows. If it exists, the presence or absence of the upper and lower M data is checked in step S3. If either one of or both of the M data exist, step S6 follows. If no M data exists, the P data is turned on in step S4. The P' data is turned on in step S5. The control ends in step S6.

(System flowchart)

The methods of controlling the heating of the thermal head 6 have been described above together with the patterns. A whole system flowchart of the apparatus in the case of always performing the high quality printing by properly switching these control methods will now be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 54.

First, in step S1, the power source of the apparatus is turned on. In step S2, the whole apparatus such as various kinds of data in the RAM 11 and the like is initialized. This embodiment will be explained with respect to the thermal printer 3 as an example. In this printer 3, for example, various kinds of ribbons 52 such as ordinary ink ribbon IR 52a, correctable ribbon CR 52b in which the printing and erasure can be performed by the same ribbon, and dual color ribbon DR 52c in which the ribbon is formed of a plurality of layers 52d (the invention is not limited to this constitution) and the printing can be performed in two or more colors can be selectively mounted on the carriage 5.

In step S3, the input from the keyboard 1 or the input of data from the I/F connector 15 is detected. If the data to be printed exists, step S4 follows and a check is made to see if the ribbon mounted on the carriage is the CR ribbon or not. This discrimination is made by the data from a ribbon sensor 58 or by the data such as kind, color, or the like of the ribbon 52 which is indicated by a signal from the keyboard unit 1 or the like, namely, from signal generating means of ribbon sensor 58 for generating a signal representative of the ribbon 52. If NO in step S4, step S17 follows and a check is made to see if the ribbon 52 is the DR ribbon or not. If the ribbon 52 has been decided to be the CR ribbon in step S4, step S5 follows. In step S5, a check is made to see if the input key is the erasure key 54a (one of operating keys 54) or not. If the erasure key 54a has been input, step S29 follows and the erasing operation is executed. If NO in step S5, step S6 follows. In step S6, a check is made to see if the temperature is a high temperature of, e.g., 30° C. or higher or not on the basis of the data from the temperature measurement circuit 13 provided for the apparatus. If it is determined that the temperature is 30°C or higher in step S6, the PPM control described in FIGS. 7 and 35 is selected in step S7. Then, the printing is performed in step S28.

If the temperature is not high in step S6, step S8 follows and the AMA control described in FIGS. 6 and 34 is selected. Further, a check is made in step S9 to see if the temperature is low (e.g., 14°C or lower) or not. The process in step S9 is the same as step S3 in FIG. 39. If the temperature is not low, namely, if it is the ordinary temperature (e.g., 14°C to 30°C) in step S9, step S10 follows and the AMA³ control described in FIGS. 11 and 40 is executed. Then, step S13 follows. If it is decided that the temperature is low in step S9, step S11 follows and the A³ MA³ control described in FIGS. 14 and 41 is performed. Then, step S12 follows and the one serial/lateral dot control in the AMA control shown in FIGS. 18, 19-1 to 19-3, and 42 is executed. In steps S13 and S14, the AM and A'M underline controls shown in FIGS. 17 and 46 are executed. In the next steps S15 and S16, the "!"-, ""-, and "□"-shape dot controls shown in FIGS. 20 to 22 and 43 to 45 are performed.

If the ribbon 52 is not the CR ribbon in step S4, step S17 follows. If it is decided that the DR ribbon has been mounted in step S17, step S18 follows. In step S18, a check is made to see if a print color has been designated by the key input or color designation command data or the like or not. If a color (e.g., blue) has been designated, namely, if the ink on the recording paper 56 side in the ink layer has been designated, step S25 follows. If no color is designated, namely, if the ink (black) on the thermal head 6 side in the ink layer 52d has been designated, step S19 follows. The process in step S19 is the same as step S3 in FIG. 50. In step S19, if the temperature is determined to be low on the basis of the data from the temperature measurement circuit 13 in FIG. 2, step S22 follows. If the temperature is not low, step S20 follows and the P'PM control described in FIGS. 8 and 36 is selected. In step S21, the P'P³ M control described in FIGS. 23 and 52 is executed. The printing is performed in step S28.

If the temperature is decided to be low in step S19, step S22 follows and the P'PM (3, 2, 1) control described in FIGS. 9 and 37 is selected. In step S23, the P'P³ MP'3 control shown in FIGS. 28 and 51 is executed. Further, in step S24, the one serial/lateral dot control in the P'PM control shown in FIGS. 32 and 53 is executed and the printing is performed in step S28.

If the DR ribbon has been mounted in step S17 and also if the print color of blue has been designated in step S18, step S25 follows. In step S25, a check is made to see if the temperature is high or not. If it is high, the PPM control described in FIGS. 7 and 35 is selected in step S27. If the temperature is not high, the AMA control described in FIGS. 6 and 34 in step S26 is selected and the printing is performed in step S28. After completion of the process in step S28, the processing routine is returned from step S31 to S3.

(Erasure control)

The erasure in step S29 in FIG. 54 will now be explained. FIGS. 55A and 55B show examples of font patterns for erasure stored in the ROM 10. Practically speaking, each of these patterns consists of 24×8 dots and this pattern is repetitively used. For the pattern to be erased, if the ink which was all recorded by being heated by the M data is peeled off, there is a fear such that heating energy is accumulated and the ribbon will stick to the paper or dirt occurs.

(MN control)

Therefore, the N data obtained by reducing the heat pulse width of the M data to the interval of one dot in the lateral direction is heated. Further, since the erasing energy with respect to the first dot is low, by starting the heating from the timing which is preceding by two dots, the erasing energy of the first dot rises and this dot can be certainly erased. This erasure can be accomplished by use of the pattern shown in FIG. 55A or 55B.

(Double erasure using the opposite zig-zag patterns )

FIGS. 55A and 55B show the fonts of the zig-zag boxes 55a and 55b, respectively, which are used in the erasing mode. The dots are thinned out at intervals of one dot in each of the vertical and lateral directions. In this embodiment, the first erasing operation is executed in FIG. 55A. However, in order to certainly erase a character, it is necessary to erase again, i.e., twice. In the case of erasing the second time, the font of FIG. 55B is used. The font of FIG. 55B is opposite to the font of FIG. 55A. The erasure is performed by shifting the M and N data positions by one dot the second time as compared with the first erasing time. The using order of the fonts of FIGS. 55A and 55B may be reversed.

As explained above, the printed character can be certainly erased by executing the erasing process twice by use of the opposite fonts.

(Manual erasure)

In the automatic erasing mode, the erasure span is determined by a width of character stored in the buffer 11 of FIG. 2. When the buffer 11 is filled with characters, the characters are sequentially deleted from the buffer 11. When erasing the characters from the buffer, since the width data to be erased is not stored, the operating mode enters the manual erasing mode. In the manual erasing mode, this mode needs to be identified to the operator and the width of the character to be erased needs to be input by one of operating keys 54.

The erasure span of the key-in character is obtained by the font and pitch (whole width and double width) both of which are being displayed at present. Thus, the character of only the erasure span obtained can be erased. Namely, the operator can freely select the erasure span and erase the character of the erasure span.

(Flowchart for erasure using the zig-zag patterns)

FIG. 56 is a flowchart for erasure in step S29 in FIG. 54.

The processing routine is started in step S1. In step S2, the MN dot pattern 1 is set. In this case, the dots and heat pattern in FIG. 55A are used. In step S3, the MN control (FIG. 57) is executed and the first erasure is performed. In step S4, the thermal head (carriage 5) 6 which moved in association with the erasing operation is returned to the first erasure starting position. In step S5, the MN dot pattern 2 is set. In this case, the dots and heat pattern in FIG. 55B are used. In step S6 the MN control (FIG. 57) is executed and the second erasure is performed. The processing routine ends in step S7.

In this embodiment, the heating energy can be also further changed in a plurality of erasing operations as mentioned above in the erasure. By sequentially reducing the heat pulse widths in accordance with the number of erasing operation times in consideration of the heat accumulation of the head 6, the heating energy can be held to a constant proper value every time. This method is particularly useful in the case of using the foregoing CR ribbon.

(Flowchart for the MN control)

FIG. 57 is a flowchart for the MN control.

In step S1, the control is started. In step S2, a width of character to be erased is obtained from the CG and set into the character count unit 23 in the RAM 11. In step S3, the character count value obtained in step S2 is increased by "2". Thus the erasure can be performed from the timing which is preceding to the character by two dots. In step S4, the excitation phase of the stepping motor 22 is switched. In step S5, a check is made to see if the character count value obtained in steps S2 and S3 is the even number or the odd number. If it is the odd number, step S9 follows. If it is the even number, the M data is obtained in step S6. In step S7, the heat pulse width of the M data is derived. In step S8, the M data obtained in steps S6 and S7 is heated. Then, step S12 follows.

In step S9, the N data is obtained. In step S10, the heat pulse width of the N data is obtained. In step S11, the N data obtained in steps S9 and S10 is heated. Then, step S12 follows.

In step S12, the character count value is decreased by "1". In step S13, a check is made to see if the character count value is "0" or not. If it is not "0", the processing routine is returned to step S4. If it is "0", the control ends in step S14.

(Flowchart for manual erasure)

FIG. 58 is a flowchart for manual erasure.

In step S1, the processing routine is started. In step S2, a message is displayed by the LCD unit 2 to inform the operator of the fact that the manual erasing mode has been set. In step S3, a check is made to see if the key input has been made or not. If NO, step S3 is repeated. If the key input has been made, a check is made in step S4 to see if it indicates the END key 54b or not. If it is the END key 54b, step S8 follows. If NO, a check is made in step S5 to see if the input key is the character key or not. If NO, the processing routine is returned to step S3. If it is the character key, a width of character corresponding to the input key is obtained from the CG to thereby obtain the erasure span in step S6. In step S3, the erasing operation is performed by only the amount of the erasure span obtained in step S6. Then, step S3 follows.

In step S8, the message displayed on the LCD unit 2 is cleared and the end of manual erasing mode is informed to the operator. The processing routine ends in step S9.

As explained in detail above, according to the invention, even if the ribbon 52 was variably changed, the proper heat control can be always performed. Therefore, the printer which can perform the very high quality recording can be provided.

As described in detail above, according to invention, even in the heat cycles other than the heat cycle (recording timing) of the dot as the data to be recorded, by performing the preheat to record this dot, very high quality recording can be performed.

As described in detail above, according to the invention, it is possible to provide a thermal transfer printer comprising: heating energy generating means for generating heating energy; means for transferring dot information to be recorded; and control means 9 for controlling the heating energy generating means in a manner such that when recording the dot information transferred by the transferring means, after the first preheating energy was generated in the first recording cycle prior to the dot information to be recorded in the second recording cycle, the second preheating energy different from the first preheating energy is further generated before the heating energy corresponding to the dot information is generated in the second recording cycle. On the other hand, by making uniform the heating energy, high quality recording can be performed.

Even in the case of recording at a low speed, very high quality recording can be executed.

As explained in detail above, according to the invention, one dot in the left edge portion of a recording pattern, particularly, one independent dot in each of the upper and lower directions can be certainly recorded.

As described in detail above, according to the invention, even in the heat cycles other than one heat cycle of the dot information to be recorded, the preheat is given, and in a predetermined heat cycle, the heating energy corresponding to the dot information to be recorded is not generated, so that a very high quality underline can be recorded.

Since the preheat is increased for the first dot of the underline, the underline can be recorded from the beginning at a high quality.

By eliminating the heat pulses corresponding to the dot information to be recorded in predetermined cycles and by reducing the number of pulses within one heat cycle, a temperature rise due to the concentration of the heating energy can be minimized, so that high quality underlining can be performed.

Not only by reducing the heat pulse width but also by deleting the heat pulses within one heat cycle, a temperature rise due to the concentration of the heating energy can be prevented. Therefore, the heating energies can be independently applied to the characters and underline. Both of the characters and underline can be printed at a high quality.

As described in detail above, according to the invention, even in the cycles other than one heat cycle of the dot information to be recorded, by applying the preheat and by eliminating the preheat in predetermined cycles, the underline of a very high quality can be recorded.

Since the amount of preheat is increased for only the first dot of the underline, the underline can be recorded at a high quality from the beginning.

By reducing the number of preheat pulses at intervals of one dot, the concentration of the heating energy can be prevented, so that the underline of a very high quality can be recorded. Due to this, not only by reducing the heat pulse width but also by eliminating the heat pulses within one heat cycle, the concentration of the heating energy can be prevented. Therefore, the heating energy can be independently applied to the characters and underline, so that both the characters and underline can be printed at a high quality.

As described in detail above, according to the invention, in the case of recording the "!"-, ""-, "␣", and "□"-shape dot patterns consisting of at least the dots of the directions including the dots in the right direction, the preheat to record the dots in the right direction is not performed, so that the high quality recording without deformation can be executed.

As described in detail above, according to the invention, in an apparatus for recording dot information by use of the heating energy, it is possible to provide a printer comprising: heating energy generating means for generating heating energy; reading means 2 for reading out dot information indicative of a pattern to be recorded; and control means 9 for controlling the heating energy generating means in a manner such that in the case where the pattern which was read out by the reading means is a pattern in which the dot information exists in at least three peripheral directions including the dot information in the recording direction, the preheating energy to record the dot information in the recording direction is not generated.

As described in detail above, according to the invention, in the case of recording dot information surrounded by the dot information to be together recorded in four peripheral directions, the heating energy is reduced to a degree so that the intensity of the image recorded is not affected, even in its center, with respect to that dot information, so that even in the case of a "□"-shape dot pattern, high quality recording can be achieved.

As described in detail above, according to the invention, in an apparatus for recording dot information by use of heating energy, it is possible to provide a printer comprising: heating energy generating means for generating heating energy; reading means for reading out dot information indicative of a pattern to be recorded; and control means 9 for controlling the heating energy generating means in a manner such that in the pattern which was read out by the reading means, in the case of recording the dot information in which the dot information exists in four peripheral directions, only the preheating energy to record the dot information in the recording direction is generated within the cycle to record the relevant dot information, or to provide a control method for such a printer.

As described in detail above, according to the invention, by correcting the heating energy for not only the first dot but also a few dots, it is possible to provide a thermal transfer printer which can perform the very high quality recording. By continuously correcting the heating energy, the recording can be certainly executed even at the start of the recording at low temperatures or the like.

As described in detail above, according to the invention, in the recording cycle before the recording cycle of the dot information to be recorded, by applying additional preheating energy in the further upper or lower direction of the preheating energy to be applied, in particular, the independent dot information can be certainly recorded.

Claims

1. An output apparatus with an erasing function in which recording and erasing can be executed by application of heating energy corresponding to dot information, said apparatus using an erasing member which can erase an image recorded on a recording material by application of heating energy, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of heating energy generating means for generating heating energy;

memory means for storing a plurality of drive patterns for selectively driving at least a one of said plurality of heating energy generating means, the drive patterns comprising a dot pattern forming an image to be recorded; and

control means for controlling said plurality of heating energy generating means to generate heating energy a plurality of times to a same area of a recorded pattern based on a thinned pattern obtained by thinning the dot pattern of the plurality of drive patterns stored in said memory means so as to erase the recorded pattern, the thinned dot pattern comprising a pattern in which a predetermined at least one of said plurality of heating energy generating means is driven every predetermined dots upon generating the heating energy a single time to the same area of the recorded pattern.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus uses a plurality of the thinned patterns which are the same patterns which have the same respective pulse widths, and which patterns are not produced in registry.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the erasing member includes a correctable ribbon which can record and erase by application of heating energy, and said control means controls said plurality of heating energy generating means to generate heating energy to the correctable ribbon.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus uses a plurality of the thinned patterns which comprise complementary patterns.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus uses a plurality of the thinned patterns such that a relatively large amount of heating energy is generated by said heating energy generating means in a first cycle and a relatively small amount of heating energy is generated by said heating energy generating means in a second cycle and such that the first and second cycles are repeated alternately.

6. An output apparatus with an erasing function in which recording and erasing can be executed by application of heating energy corresponding to dot information, said apparatus using an erasing member which can erase an image recorded on a recording material by application of heating energy, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of heating energy generating means for generating heating energy;

erasing means for erasing a recorded image formed by said plurality of heating energy generating means;

designation means for designating a position in which an image erasure is to be executed by said erasing means;

instruction means for instructing said erasing means to erase an image included in an area defined by the position designated by said designation means, said instruction means inputting a character to be deleted, designating the character and instructing said erasing means to erase data in accordance with the width of the input character; and

control means for controlling said plurality of heating energy generating means to generate the heating energy for erasing the image included in the defined area in accordance with an instruction given by said instruction means.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said erasing means applies the heating energy generated by said plurality of heating energy generating means to a correctable ribbon which can record and erase by application of heating energy.